A coalition of nonprofits, homeowners, elected officials and advocates are calling on lawmakers to restore funding for HOPP in the State Budget for 2020-21 and to make the $20 million funding a permanent line item in the yearly budget.
Read moreCity Limits: NY's 90-Day Mortgage Waiver Has Big Limitations →
A statement released by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) is calling the enforceability of Governor Cuomo’s executive order into question. Meanwhile, the likelihood of increased homeowner scams makes funding HOPP a necessity, says Jacob Inwald of Legal Services NYC.
Read moreNewsday: New York Can Help Homeowners—and Save Money →
Funding HOPP keeps knowledgeable advocates by homeowners’ sides as they apply for loan modifications or go to court to fight foreclosure. In both cases, they often come up against bureaucratic systems that are difficult to navigate by themselves, say Executive Director Ian Wilder and Senior Staff Attorney Michael Wigutow.
Read moreBuffalo News: The Homeowner Protection Program is Critical for Western New York →
Kate Lockhart, a program director at the Western New York Law Center, says Governor Cuomo must stand up for New York families and dedicate $20M to the Homeowner Protection Program before the budget deadline.
Read moreCity Limits: New Focus on Homeowner Assistance Program as COVID Squeezes Incomes →
HOPP funding is in danger of being cut from the state budget, leaving homeowners without an economic safety net amid record-high unemployment filings.
Read moreStatement from the HOPP Funding Campaign on COVID-19
COVID-19 is already having devastating effects on communities throughout New York State, and unfortunately we are only at the beginning of its impact. The State’s top priority must be combating this virus, and we applaud the Governor and our elected officials for the measures they have taken to protect all of us and the difficult decisions they have faced.
These extremely difficult times will be made even worse if families can no longer afford to stay in the homes they worked so hard to buy. We urge the State to continue $20 million in funding for the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) in any budget agreement reached by the Legislature and Governor to help vulnerable New Yorkers navigate foreclosure, mortgage relief, scams, and so much more.
The program saves New York State $1.2 billion in funds every year, savings we need to maintain so that other public programs do not become burdened.
In times of crisis, the risk of foreclosure and housing instability skyrockets. With businesses shutting down, layoffs, families struggling with childcare, and sickness afflicting so many New Yorkers, we need stable homes and neighborhoods to uplift us. HOPP can help stabilize families and communities. But funding for HOPP will run out on March 31st but it is critical more than ever. We look forward to working with our elected officials to ensuring that HOPP can continue to preserve New Yorkers’ home for generations to come.”
Background:
There are two weeks left for state lawmakers to continue critical funding for the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP), a network of nonprofits that provide critical housing and legal services for families across New York state. Over the last decade, HOPP nonprofits have helped more than 100,000 families -- primarily seniors, people of color, and low- and moderate-income families -- across the state navigate complex housing challenges, including mortgage fraud, predatory scams, and foreclosure. A coalition of nonprofits, homeowners, and advocates are calling on lawmakers to save HOPP before funding runs out March 31st, and to make the funding permanent -- $20 million annually will allow continued free help for vulnerable New Yorkers.
Bklyner: Protect New York City Homeowners and Permanently Fund HOPP →
For nearly a decade, the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) has been the critical safety net for New Yorkers facing housing distress, says Shabnam Faruki, Director of Foreclosure Prevention & Community Economic Development at Brooklyn Legal Services.
Read moreNY Daily News: A key foreclosure prevention and deed theft program is at risk in NY state budget →
This op-ed chronicles the HOPP network’s fight for renewed funding among rising deed theft complaints in the city—especially in Brooklyn. Scammers, the authors note, are targeting seniors and those behind on their bills in low-income communities with skyrocketing property values.
Read moreLawmakers & Advocates Call For Permanent Funding For Homeowner Protections Across New York State
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Network of statewide nonprofits needs $20 million in the State budget or will be forced to shut down free legal and housing services that prevent foreclosure and displacement
Read moreNew York State Sustains Funding to Protect Homeowners and Save Jobs
Thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo, the State Legislature and the Attorney General’s Office, $20 million has been allocated in the New York State budget for vital housing counseling and legal services programs to help middle- and working-class homeowners and to save hundreds of nonprofit jobs. The funds will support a network of 89 housing counseling and legal service providers across the state to continue to help New Yorkers — primarily families, seniors, and people of color — navigate complex housing challenges, including foreclosure prevention, the threat of displacement, and mortgage fraud.
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